recovery

“A person who makes no mistakes usually does not make anything.” – Alcoholism, the Family Disease

Getting upset about mistakes just fuels my self-pity. Instead, I recognize that mistakes are the building blocks for my success. For me, it’s trickier when others make mistakes. I’m quick to judge and then try to fix them. It might be ok with kids and employees, but not so much with everyone else. Today I’ll aim to allow my friends and loved ones to make mistakes and remember that their mistakes are the building blocks for their success. I love my continuing education in recovery and ILML!

I’ve discovered that, for me at least, there is no better way to get out of a funk than to get into gratitude. But when I’ve gone over the cliff and into the darkness, it’s often hard to find my way back. That’s why being involved in the fellowship and leaning on others that love me and will guide me home to gratitude is so critical. The people in the rooms are sometimes my only lifeline back to sanity. I’m so grateful they are there for me, and I’m there for them. ILML!

Like this:

“The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.” – Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Courage to Change says that shame is hating ourselves for something we did or didn’t do in the past. Think about that. Being upset about the past to the extent that we can’t feel good about ourselves today. This distorted thinking poisons our lives, and no one can eradicate the shame we live with except us.

Take this challenge with me. Let’s make today the day we finally, once and for all, let go of every perceived mistake we’ve ever made in our lives – they no longer serve us.

Join me in writing down all our mistakes. Every bad decision we think we’ve made. Every missed opportunity we think we could have had. Everything we think we did wrong. All this negativity we’ve been hanging onto. Now let’s set that paper on fire, while saying “I forgive me”, until all those mistakes that caused us guilt, shame and regret are gone.

Like this:

“As a result of this guidance, I start every morning on my knees, thanking God for three things: I’m alive, I’m sober, and I’m a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Then I try to live an “attitude of gratitude” and thoroughly enjoy another twenty-four hours of the A.A. way of life. A.A. is not something I joined; it’s something I live. – Daily Reflections 2/24/15

Through taking direction and working steps day after day I try to keep things as simple as this quote suggests. When I stay in gratitude, no matter what is happening, I invite abundance into my life and I’m able to be part of the solution.

My problems seem to melt away if I can stay grateful and take the next right indicated actions which I get from my sponsor, spiritual work, prayer/meditation, meetings, and program friends. I have to live it all day, everyday, or I give my disease a chance to start talking me into fear, anxiety, and worry.

Like this:

“Love with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind.” – 12 Step Prayer Book

Before the program, if you asked me, as a child, how my parents treated me, I would have pointed out all the things the did wrong. Today my focus is on all the good things, both in my past and present. I was a very lucky boy because my parents were super loving. They talked about the importance of love. My dad even told me that God was love.

So today I think, above all, being loving, and focusing on love, is of vital importance to my happiness. And that’s another reason why ILML!

Like this:

“… today, well lived, makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.” – 12 Step Prayer Book

What a wonderful thought for a beautiful morning. If only I insist on being grateful today, staying in the solution, being of service, and connecting with my higher power, this day will be amazing. And then tomorrow I’ll look back at this day, and forward to tomorrow, and smile, knowing how lucky I am to be alive and living the dream. ILML!